indenture

English · Français

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

indenture

/ɪnˈdɛn.ʃɝ/ US

Where it comes from

From Anglo-Norman endenture, from Old French endenteure, from endenter (“to dent”). The name of the contract derives from the irregular dent-shaped cut (indentation) used to prove the authenticity of the two parts, similar to a chirograph.

noun indentures · endenture

A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice). And so the schoolmistress reconciled the recommendation to her conscience, and the indentures were cancelled, and the apprentice was free.
A contract relating to lending (typically for issuing a bond), a real estate transaction, or a bankruptcy that imposes additional conditions on one or both parties.
in plural, often A document, written as duplicates separated by indentations, specifying either of the above contracts. Walking the street very hungry, and not knowing what to do with himself, a crimp's bill was put into his hand, offering immediate entertainment and encouragement to such as would bind themselves to serve in America. He went directly, sign'd the indentures, was put into the ship, and came over, never
An indentation; a recess. The narrow windows, flanked by deep indentures into the walls, seemed formed rather to exclude than to admit the cheerful light; and the heavy and gloomy appearance of the thunder-sky added still farther to the obscurity.

verb indentures · indenturing · indentured · endenture

To bind a person under such a contract.
To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow. Though age may creep on, and indenture the brow.

Translations

Every language

noun contract

Español	contrato de trabajo no remunerado, esclavitud temporánea
Deutsch	Vertrag, Ausbildungsvertrag, Arbeitsvertrag, Lehrbrief, Kontrakt
Русский	кабала kabala

Talk about this word

Cite this

MLA

"indenture." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/indenture. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

indenture. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/indenture

Chicago

"indenture." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/indenture.

BibTeX

@misc{indenture_2026,
  title = {indenture},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/indenture},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}